ONCE IN A NEW MOON is an all-but-forgotten British science fiction feature made on a tiny little budget. The story takes place in a village which rather miraculously is launched into space and becomes a republic of sorts. The occupants are soon split into two factions, the working class and the upper class, and it seems that war will develop between the two sides. With no money for special effects of any kind, this plays out as a nice and amusing little piece of social commentary which is a bit like PASSPORT TO PIMLICO, only earlier. Watch out for the great Wally Patch and a young Thorley Walters at the start of his career.
6 Reviews
Rare 1930's Sci-Fi Fantasy
richardmeredith-427102 January 2018
A small town Shrimpton-on-sea is sucked off earth by a passing dark star and becomes a planet in its own right. At first the community is happy to be governed by the squire and the usual village hierarchy, but then led by the butcher, a democratic government is elected which is more socialist in nature. The climax of the film is when civil war threatens to break out.
Not as expensive or as well acted as other sci-fi films of the period it is an interesting period piece, having a distant relationship with Jules Verne's "Off On A Comet" and worth a look. I give it four because of its story line and rarity more than for its place in cinematic history. Thnk you Talkingpictures TV for showing it!
Not as expensive or as well acted as other sci-fi films of the period it is an interesting period piece, having a distant relationship with Jules Verne's "Off On A Comet" and worth a look. I give it four because of its story line and rarity more than for its place in cinematic history. Thnk you Talkingpictures TV for showing it!
One of the most bizarre films of the 1930s
malcolmgsw19 December 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Due to a dead star colliding with the moon the seaside village of Shrimpham by sea is drawn out of the earth and becomes a small planet orbiting the earth with its own sea.There is nothing else on this little planet.The village postmaster is a bit of a scientist has worked out exactly what has happened.So the village constitutes a council to govern matters with the local Lord as chairman.After a time there is dissatisfaction with the way things are going .As a result there is an election with the postman winning.However the Lord refuses to co operate and there is the threat of civil war.At that moment the village is returned to earth only in a different part of the globe.The navy comes to collect the residents and take them back to England.However the lovers,the postmasters daughter and the Lords son decide to stay behind.A truly bizarre film with minimal special effects.
The haves and the have nots
Prismark104 March 2018
Once in a new moon is a curious quota quickie that would had been elevated if it had the quirky charm of the Ealing comedies.
It is a film with science fiction elements but really examines the class system.
The small town of Shrimpton-on-Sea is somehow dragged out into space by the force of a dead star passing Planet Earth. You see a demonstration given of a table cloth quickly being removed from a table and the jug still being left behind.
The local squire and other well to do people organise the town with those born to rule who also have wealth, privilege and power. They have better, warmer food and are less willing to share their ample resources.
The others in the town get frustrated and demand equal rights and vote for a president. They even go as far as planning an insurrection while the wealthy folk dismiss them as socialists.
The film was made during the depression of the 1930s. As well as being a humorous social commentary it even finds time for a bit of romance but it is very talkative with no budget for any science fiction.
It is a film with science fiction elements but really examines the class system.
The small town of Shrimpton-on-Sea is somehow dragged out into space by the force of a dead star passing Planet Earth. You see a demonstration given of a table cloth quickly being removed from a table and the jug still being left behind.
The local squire and other well to do people organise the town with those born to rule who also have wealth, privilege and power. They have better, warmer food and are less willing to share their ample resources.
The others in the town get frustrated and demand equal rights and vote for a president. They even go as far as planning an insurrection while the wealthy folk dismiss them as socialists.
The film was made during the depression of the 1930s. As well as being a humorous social commentary it even finds time for a bit of romance but it is very talkative with no budget for any science fiction.
A quicky with a problem and no solution
Bernie44449 January 2024
This looks like a simple love/sci-fi story. However, it brings up the obvious class versus class in England at the time of the film.
The film is based on an Owen Rutter novel. It could have been written by Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 - 13 August 1946) or Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 - 21 January 1950). There is even a tad of Sir William Gerald Golding, CBE FRSL (19 September 1911 - 19 June 1993).
The small town of Shrimpton-on-Sea is displaced and must become self-sufficient. The privileged class oligarchy needs to immediately set up a government for the good of the people.
Meanwhile back at the post office Lord Bravington's son is making advances to the postmaster's daughter and he is quite a rebel in his own right.
Another displaced postmaster's daughter, suiter says let the hoi polloi control everything and let us burn down Lord Bravington's home.
What will happen if Shrimpton-in-Space gets placed back where it belongs as Shrimpton-on-Sea?
The film is based on an Owen Rutter novel. It could have been written by Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 - 13 August 1946) or Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 - 21 January 1950). There is even a tad of Sir William Gerald Golding, CBE FRSL (19 September 1911 - 19 June 1993).
The small town of Shrimpton-on-Sea is displaced and must become self-sufficient. The privileged class oligarchy needs to immediately set up a government for the good of the people.
Meanwhile back at the post office Lord Bravington's son is making advances to the postmaster's daughter and he is quite a rebel in his own right.
Another displaced postmaster's daughter, suiter says let the hoi polloi control everything and let us burn down Lord Bravington's home.
What will happen if Shrimpton-in-Space gets placed back where it belongs as Shrimpton-on-Sea?
"I shouldn't take it too seriously Daddy!"
adamjohns-425757 May 2023
Once In A New Moon (1935) -
For a film from 1935 I could forgive a lot of the obvious errors and foibles, because essentially it wasn't a bad one at all, if a bit simplistic and silly. It had none of the finesse of later science fiction films or any elements of actual science that I could see either. The idea of an island being ripped from the planet and floating off in to space wasn't exactly what I'd call sound physics, although I admit that I used to skip school on the days I had science class, because the teacher was an idiot, but 'Star Trek' (1966-) taught me a few things at least.
With that aside, the story itself was quite an interesting idea and it had similarities to 'Passport To Pimlico' (1949) with the towns attempts to self govern and the issues that in itself caused.
Unfortunately they all spoke so fast that it was hard to keep up with what they were saying, which was where its simplicity came in handy. It was also very British, in that everybody just got on with things over a cup of tea and caused no real riots until the townsfolk decided to depose their government.
I wouldn't say that anyone stood out for their acting, either good or bad. As for the production, it was clever in the way that they didn't have to come up with anything too scientific or astrological to make the story work.
Overall, it was a fun little tale, but nothing to tell the world and his Mother about.
471.09/1000.
For a film from 1935 I could forgive a lot of the obvious errors and foibles, because essentially it wasn't a bad one at all, if a bit simplistic and silly. It had none of the finesse of later science fiction films or any elements of actual science that I could see either. The idea of an island being ripped from the planet and floating off in to space wasn't exactly what I'd call sound physics, although I admit that I used to skip school on the days I had science class, because the teacher was an idiot, but 'Star Trek' (1966-) taught me a few things at least.
With that aside, the story itself was quite an interesting idea and it had similarities to 'Passport To Pimlico' (1949) with the towns attempts to self govern and the issues that in itself caused.
Unfortunately they all spoke so fast that it was hard to keep up with what they were saying, which was where its simplicity came in handy. It was also very British, in that everybody just got on with things over a cup of tea and caused no real riots until the townsfolk decided to depose their government.
I wouldn't say that anyone stood out for their acting, either good or bad. As for the production, it was clever in the way that they didn't have to come up with anything too scientific or astrological to make the story work.
Overall, it was a fun little tale, but nothing to tell the world and his Mother about.
471.09/1000.
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